2270 South Vine
Come with me as I meet my Mother through this series of letters, she died when I was 6 months old and this is my very first real glimpse into her world, who she was, who she wanted to be and how she loved my Father.
A collection of 36 letters hand written by my Mother Joyce at University of Denver and sent to my Father Earl at University of Colorado Boulder when they were first engaged in 1952. The letters span from September 1952 - January 1953. My Mother died from Breast Cancer in 1971 at the age of 40. The original language of the letters is read intact to maintain the integrity of the authenticity of her words, 1952 is a very different time culturally and economically.
2270 South Vine
Letter 14 11/3/1952 Pencil Letters and Mountain Views
November 3rd, 1952 — Joyce writes from work in pencil, determined that Earl will have a Wednesday letter even though they’ll see each other that night. Between serving customers, she shares the latest gossip: Johnny’s $300 poker loss, Winnie’s growing frustration over Bob’s silence, and Maddie skipping class to bake a pie “for a man.” The mountains glisten with fresh snow, and Joyce can’t help but marvel at their beauty.
She celebrates another A in genetics but worries about grading quirks, discusses her savings goals, and debates reducing her work hours. In sociology, her group is crafting a project filled with “catch-alls, loopholes, and ambiguous terms” to outwit Dr. Shuri’s expectations. Even amidst financial planning and piano lesson debts, she looks forward to composing a song for her composition class. The letter closes with a burst of affection, underscoring how much she misses Earl — even when he’s only a short trip away in Boulder.
Topics Include:
- Writing from work between customers
- Johnny’s $300 poker loss
- Winnie’s engagement frustration
- Maddie skipping class to bake a pie
- Snow on the mountain tops
- Sociology project strategies
- Another A in genetics
- Savings goals and piano lesson debts
- Composing a song for class
- Missing Earl even before seeing him
November 3rd, 52 on scratch paper. My darling, please excuse the pencil as I'm writing this at work between customers. I want you to have a letter Wednesday, so even though I'll see you tonight, I'll try to think of several things to say that won't be repetitious. I guess the latest piece of dirt I've got is Johnny went out last night and lost
three hundred dollars in a poker game. He came in at 6 a.m. pretty stewed and so isn't feeling so good at work today. He starts working around 1130 a.m. Winnie still, excuse me some people just came in, hasn't heard from Bob and she gets madder and crabbier, madder and crabbier every day.
I can't blame her. It must be tough to have someone ask you to marry them and then not write you for a long time. I'm so glad you're coming home tonight. I could hardly keep my mind on my work. Usually I can't keep my mind on my work because the week stretches out before me like eternity. Someone asked me why every Monday I felt blue and every Friday I said, thank God it's Friday.
I could see snow on several of the mountain tops this morning. They sure are heavenly. I think in every part of nature God created, the mountains are supreme.
If Marilyn could see me writing you a letter this afternoon with you coming down tonight, she'd be surprised again. It seems strange to the kids whose fellows are away for me to think of Boulder as being away and to write you regularly. Maddie cut class one day and today she said she cut it to bake a pie. And then she said the things I'll do for a man. I was so tickled. Luanne
How did you tell me she spelled her name? Still hasn't called me. We have to give our project last in sociology. We are beginning to make progress on how we will present. If the kids aren't too sharp, we'll get by with all the catch-alls, loopholes, and ambiguous terms. It's the one Dr. Shuri is the most interested in, I think.
We got our test papers back in genetics and I got another A. Aren't you proud of me? Only one thing worries me. I think most of the kids made an A or a minus two. And anyone who gets even one B is likely to get a B in the course. Ordinarily with three A's or so and one B, a professor would give an A, especially with the class discussion.
but Hulk will most likely not give us all A's. I'm one of those most likely to get an A though, but the work is getting harder and with playing for the course, I don't spend so much time on it. I may just work three hours every day instead of four, but I'm doing pretty well on savings, so I'd hate to cut down.
I've got $8 and I can surely save at least $7 more and possibly $10 by Saturday. I go to the bank on Wednesday. So by next week, Wednesday, maybe, just maybe, I'll have $20, at least 15. I still haven't paid for piano lessons though. It's 4.45 and things are still quiet. If they stay quiet, 15 or 20 more minutes.
I'll have this finished. For composition class, I have to write a song. He said we could put a poem to music. That's going to be gay. Just maybe I should fill the sugar bowls and such before the dinner crowd comes in. And so I'll say goodbye till Friday. I love you loads and miss you very much, sweetheart. Some people can just came in. Bye bye. I love you. Love always, Joyce.
And then there's a surprise outside that says, love you very much, my darling.
